How to Sleep Better While Traveling - Eight Sleep
Traveling is amazing, but it doesn’t matter if you’re sleeping in a 5-star hotel, in a bungalow on a beach, or in a tent… by the end of your trip, you are tired and craving the coziness of your own bed.
Sleep is so important both in your daily life and when on the road. A good night's sleep helps your immune system stay strong, keeps your mood lifted, and your mind alert. All things that are essential when you are traveling or planning your next trip. It can be hard to get consistent sleep while traveling and that is understandable. Between the jetlag and excitement of a new city, your circadian rhythm is bound to be off. But studies show that 1 out of every 3 Americans struggle to get an uninterrupted night’s sleep even in the comfort of their home. So how do we combat this?
We partnered with Eight Sleep, a health and wellness company that is focused on sleep fitness, to tell you our 3 recommendations to help improve sleep both on the road and in your home.
Stick to a Schedule:
It is scientifically proven that we sleep better if we go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Everybody has their own specific circadian clock, but for most, it is between 11 pm-7 am. That is when your body recognizes it is time to power down, sleep, and recharge. Having a good, full night of sleep while traveling is difficult because your circadian rhythm is all messed up (thank you jet-lag). To counteract this, try going to bed an hour before/later than normal to start shifting your inner clock towards the time you will experience abroad. That way when you land, your body won’t have as much of an adjustment to make and your sleep schedule will adjust more smoothly.
Don’t Work Where you Sleep:
It doesn’t matter if you are on a work trip or working from home, you should never bring your work materials or computer where you sleep. Computer screens emit a certain light that actually activates our brains and can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Switch out your hour of Netflix for a light-hearted book and your body will thank you. Work produces stress and anxiety, two things that prompt insomnia. Your brain should associate the bed with only relaxed and restful feelings. Once you lay your head down on your pillow, your body should automatically switch off the mind and enter into an untroubled state.
Some people need time to shift their bodies into “sleep mode”, so they do a calming activity prior to sleep. Instead of working before turning the lights off, try a relaxing meditation or quick full-body stretch to really put your body in a state of slumber.
Adjust the Temperature:
We have all experienced a chilly nap on a plane with no blanket around or a hot night in an apartment in Barcelona (why is there no A.C. in Europe?!), but we didn’t realize just how much temperature influences our sleep. Your body temperature fluctuates throughout the day and during the night. When your body temperature is dropping it is easier to sleep and when it is rising you are more likely to be energized. That is why many people prefer to sleep in chilled rooms; it enables sleep. Everybody has a unique temperature that is optimal for them to sleep and stay asleep throughout the night. That is why Eight Sleep created the Pod. … a bed so cool you might not be able to leave it…
It is the only mattress that learns your perfect sleep temperature and dynamically warms or cools according to your needs. Normal mattresses absorb your body heat throughout the night, but the Pod continuously adjusts its temperature to keep you sleeping like a baby. If you and your partner have different preferences, the Pod will allow you to personalize the temperature on both sides of the bed. You will never be too hot or too cold. Plus, it has a thermo alarm that will gradually adjust the surface temperature of the bed, so you can wake up rested and alert without an alarm. You may wake up energized and ready to take on the day, but we can guarantee you won’t want to leave your bed.
We understand how important it is to sleep well in your home, so you can travel at full speed abroad. Try these three tips for a better, more rested travel experience.
